RESUMO
The alarming spread of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is requiring several measures to reduce the risk of contagion. Every successful strategy in controlling SARS-CoV2 infection depends on the timely viral diagnosis which should include asymptomatic carriers. Consequently, strategies to increase the throughput for clinical laboratories to conduct large-scale diagnostic testing are urgently needed. Here we support the hypothesis that standard diagnostic protocol for SARS-CoV-2 virus could be conveniently applied to pooled samples obtained from different subjects. We suggest that a two-step sequential pooling procedure could identify positive subjects, ensuring at the same time significant benefits of costs and time. Simulation data are used to assess the efficiency, in terms of number of required tests, both for random assignment of the subjects to the pools and for situations when epidemiological and clinical data are used to create an "informed" version of the pooling. Different scenarios are examined in the simulations to measure the effect of different pool sizes and different values for the virus frequency. Our results allow to customize the pooling strategy according to the specific characteristics of the cohort to be tested.
RESUMO
Cell-driven processes are now considered of relevance for the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis. In particular, during calcific valve degeneration, interstitial valve cells (VIC) resident in the leaflet can acquire an osteogenic/pro-calcific profile and actively contribute to matrix mineralization. The proteomic study described in this chapter is undertaken to investigate modifications in the proteome of bovine aortic VIC acquiring a calcifying phenotype. This approach can be useful to clarify cellular pathways involved in VIC pro-calcific differentiation and identify innovative therapeutic targets.
